KEY TAKEAWAYS: The PFAS inventory helps determine where PFAS might be entering the collection system and who might be contributing. Illinois NPDES permit special conditions generally require permittees to develop and submit a PFAS inventory within 12 months of the permit effective date. Common high-risk PFAS contributors include airports and firefi...
KEY TAKEAWAYS Emergency Response Plans (ERPs) are vital for Community Water Systems (CWS) to respond to emergencies and incidents that affect potable water operations. ERPs are required for all Community Water Systems that serve 3,301 people or more but remain important for all water utilities serving the public. ERPs must be updated every five yea...
As Illinois wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) navigate new per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, requirements under updated National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, one step stands out as especially critical: the PFAS inventory. While PFAS sampling and monitoring identify what per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances ar...
They're often called forever chemicals – and unfortunately, the name fits. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of human‑made chemicals designed to resist heat, water and oil. That's why they show up in everyday items like nonstick cookware, food packaging, stain‑resistant fabrics, firefighting foam and countless industrial ...
They're all around us – in the pans we use for cooking, the pizza box that delivers our dinner and even the dental floss we use on our teeth. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances – better known as PFAS – are persistent, human-made chemicals found in countless everyday products. Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency designated certa...
Landfills operate under strict state and federal rules designed to protect groundwater, surface water and nearby communities. Meeting those requirements takes consistent sampling, precise reporting and a team that understands how monitoring programs work in the field and at the agency level. This blog post answers common questions about how landfil...
Deciding how to address an environmentally challenged property can seem daunting without the proper support. But finding environmental consultants to guide you through the process can help make the process smoother – and ensure you're doing your due diligence in protecting people and the environment. In Illinois, proof that you have complied with e...
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), a group of human-made chemicals, are found in a wide range of consumer products and pose potential health risks to communities and residents. Known as forever chemicals, PFAS are stable and persistent in the environment. They don't easily break down under natural conditions and tend to accumulate in soil,...
Lead service lines are the largest source of lead in drinking water. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates more than 10 million lead service lines deliver water to homes across the country, highlighting potential risks of lead contamination in communities. While the EPA issued a final rule requiring drinking water systems across ...
In 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced legally enforceable drinking water standards for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The final rule sets limits for five PFAS chemicals and establishes a hazard index level for mixtures of two or more PFAS chemicals. What does this rule mean for public water systems? Initial...
The City of Freeport is embarking on a 25-year plan to replace 75%, or 1,351, of the community's 1,800 sidewalk ramps so they all comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. The City intends to replace 50 ramps this year at a cost of $13,000 each, or $650,000 in total. The entire project replacement will cost about $38.4 million, w...
The Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy (NLRS) was conceptualized to limit nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, from entering Illinois waterways. An excess of nutrients in Illinois rivers flows downstream, making its way to the Gulf of Mexico and causing low-oxygen zones that cannot sustain aquatic life. The strategy aims to reduc...
Biosolids are treated sewage sludge that meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Standards for the Use or Disposal of Sewage Sludge. They are commonly applied to land as a soil conditioner or fertilizer and can be used on agricultural land, forests and rangeland. Biosolids are also suitable for nonagricultural use, such as golf courses,...
Parks and recreational areas are valuable assets to many communities. They serve as gathering places, promote physical and mental health and improve overall quality of life. These spaces support public health by encouraging exercise and active lifestyles, boost local economies by attracting visitors and tourists, and foster a stronger sense of comm...
Biological wastewater treatment is a bioremediation process that uses microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi and algae, to break down or transform pollutants in water into less harmful substances. Treatment techniques involve either attached growth processes, where microbes grow on the surface of stone or plastic media, or suspended growth process...
In October 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule requiring all drinking water systems across the country to identify and replace lead service lines within 10 years. To support this, federal programs, including the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act (WIIN), Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (DW...
Groundwater is an essential source of drinking water and irrigation. Contamination occurs when chemicals seep into the soil from petroleum products, landfill waste, fertilizers, pesticides, leaking underground storage tanks and other sources. Groundwater contamination is often hard to detect and over time can cause severe consequences, including le...
In the final Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandated that all water systems replace lead service lines within 10 years of the compliance date. An estimated 9.2 million lead service lines deliver water across the U.S. To meet the EPA's goal of full replacement, municipalities must develop tar...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed effluent limitation guidelines (ELGs) as national regulatory standards to control wastewater discharges of pollutants into surface waters and publicly owned treatment works (POTWs). To date, the EPA has issued ELGs for 59 industrial categories. The wastewater treatment plant effluent stan...
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines a brownfield as a property where redevelopment, expansion or reuse is complicated by the presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant. These properties can range from small, abandoned gas stations to large industrial sites. When abandoned or neglected, brownfields can pose public...
